Topline
Taco Bell and its franchisees have been sued at least three times in federal court this week by plaintiffs who allege they became sick with cyclosporiasis after eating at the fast-food chain, as federal health officials have linked outbreaks in five states to the chain’s shredded iceberg lettuce.
Key Facts
Claims brought against Taco Bell and its franchisees, according to lawsuits filed in Michigan and Ohio federal courts this week, include accusations of negligence, breach of warranty and violations of deceptive trade practices law for allegedly selling contaminated lettuce.
Mohammed Ayyad, an Ohio man, sued Taco Bell franchisee Pacific Bells on Thursday, saying he became sick and was left “unable to function” after eating at an Ohio restaurant location in mid-June, claiming he developed a severe headache, chills, diarrhea and vomiting.
Ayyad said he was diagnosed with cyclosporiasis and had to miss two weeks of work and lost income, and his lawsuit accuses Pacific Bells of violating Ohio’s breach of warranty and sales practices law by selling lettuce advertised to be “of a particular standard or quality that it was not.”
A couple in Michigan—the hardest-hit state in the cyclosporiasis outbreak—sued Taco Bell on Friday, saying they ate the franchise’s lettuce on June 30 and contracted the illness, accusing the chain of negligence and violating the state’s consumer protection act.
Plaintiff Valerie Caruso sued Taco Bell in federal Ohio court Friday, saying she visited the restaurant chain three times in June and was diagnosed with cyclosporiasis in early July, also saying she was unable to take the recommended medication because of an allergy.
Both the Michigan lawsuit and Caruso named Taylor Farms, which the Washington Post reported is the supplier of the contaminated lettuce, as a defendant.
How Has Taco Bell Responded To The Lawsuits?
Taco Bell did not address the lawsuits in response to a request for comment from Forbes. The restaurant chain said it has taken “immediate action to voluntarily remove potentially impacted lettuce from a supplier in select states” and will replace the ingredients within 24 hours.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.